It appears that rumours of Chiodos‘ demise were, well, largely accurate, with the band’s founding (and returned) vocalist Craig Owens announcing that the band are officially over, clearing the air for his new project badXchannels and sharing the first track from the project, One Car Funeral.
This is going to be a lot for fans to take in, so we’ll give you a moment to decompress.
Ok, so, in an interview with Billboard, Owens, who departed Chiodos back in 2009 only to return in 2012 in time for their last album Devil, revealed that after 15 years together, the post-hardcore forefathers are no more. While the band had a somewhat tumultuous existence, it reads as though this might be somewhat of an amicable split.
“It just couldn’t stay afloat,” Owens says. “There were just kind of, not necessarily bad vibes, but we came to the realisation that we can’t do it full-time. I think it just stopped becoming a passion for all of us, so we said, ‘Alright, let’s stop.'”
Considering it’s been two years of radio silence from the camp, the break-up was always on the horizon, but it doesn’t make it hurt any less.
Fans won’t have to go too long without getting their fix of Owens, though. Earlier in the year he began teasing a new solo album, and now he’s announced his new project badXchannels is up and running. However, don’t expect to hear the same Owens you’ve come to know and love. It’s, well, alternative soul, or as Owens explains, “My version of it.”
In the past, Owens has worked with Dr Dre and D12, experience he no doubt drew upon for badXchannels, also bringing in influences from The Weeknd, Frank Ocean and Kendrick Lamar. Initially, Owens was fairly nervous about how it would go down with his adoring fan base.
“I was a little scared about it at first. Alienating a whole group of people that supported me to get me to where I am now and turning my back on them — it’s not like that at all,” he says.
“I’ve played it for people who can’t comprehend it, people close to me. I kind of expected it to be like that. But I think people are embracing it, and they like the fresh vibes. I think I’m at a point where people have some faith in me and will give me a pass to go somewhere new.”
BadXchannels will release its maiden EP, the five-track effort WHYDFML on Friday, 18th November. The show will be taken on the road too, which is a good indication for Owens possibly bringing it down under, to his ever-loving Aussie fanbase.
Check out One Car Funeral, below.
Watch: badXchannels – ‘One Car Funeral’
https://youtu.be/37rG3nwKYu0
